adj. 1. Of, relating to, or befitting a son or daughter: filial respect. 2. Having or assuming the relationship of child or offspring to parent. 3. Genetics Of or relating to a generation or the sequence of generations following the parental generation. [Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin fīliālis, from Latin fīlius, son; see dhē(i)- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] fili·al·ly adv. |
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